Apparatus for web winding



Aug. 14, 1962 c. w. BIRCH, JR 3,049,311

APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING Filed Oct. 22, 1959 e Sheet-Sheet 1 /o :f'**iIweiai'or Czaffoad W zwciz Jq 6y 7% EM Aug. 14, 1962 -c. w. BIRCH, JR

"APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 22, 1959CiaJffor-d Aug. 14, 1962 c. w. BIRCH, JR 3,049,311

APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING Filed Oct. 22. 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 14,1962 c. w. BIRCH, JR

APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 22. 1959 Aug. 14,1962 c. w. BIRCH, JR 3,049,311

APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING Filed Oct. 22. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 14,1962 c. w. BIRCH, JR

APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 22. 1959 J l a J w4 a w A V W. F Wm I.

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United States Patent ()1 3,049,311 APPARATUS FOR WEB WINDING Clifford W.Birch, Jr., Lexington, Mass., assignor to Birch Brothers, Inc.,Middlesex County, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 22,1959, Ser. No. 847,942 Claims. (Cl. 242-56) This invention relates ingeneral to web winding and to methods and apparatus of the class inwhich a continuous web of cloth, or other material, is furnished from asource of supply and is wound about a shell to obtain a roll of apredetermined diameter.

In the type of winding machine with which the present invention isparticularly concerned, winding starts on a rear driving roll and iscompleted on a forward driving roll. In the first stage, with themachine at rest, a cylindrical shell is mounted in a jaw mechanism in araised position with respect to the rear driving roll. An end of clothis led into the machine and hand wrapped around the shell. The jawmechanism is closed and the shell lowered into contact with the reardriving roll. Winding is then initiated and continues on this reardriving roll until a partly wound roll of cloth is obtained, with thejaw mechanism becoming raised as the diameter of the roll increases. Ata given point the jaw mechanism is opened to release the shell and clothroll. The partly wound roll is immediately transferred onto a forwarddriving roll, Where a second stage of winding is continued until therequired diameter is obtained. While the second stage of winding is thustaking place a new shell is inserted in the opened ja-w mechanism. Whenthe second stage of winding is completed, the jaws are closed and thenew shell is lowered into contact with the rear driving roll. Means arethen employed to cut the web and mechanically lap the cut end ofmaterial around the new shell. The completed roll, now separated fromthe web, is doffed and the cycle is repeated.

Various difficulties arise in carrying out satisfactorily the severaloperations referred to and machines of many d-iiferent types have beendevised from time to time in attempts to overcome these difficulties.All of these machines, so far as I am aware, are subject to certainlimitations, or are incapable of performing specific operations asefiiciently as may be required. For example, there exists a problem inwinding with a correct degree of pressure as the roll diameterincreases. There also continues to be present difliculties in cuttingthe web; in starting the cut end of the web around a new shell; and indoffing a wound roll. In addition to handling of the wound roll, troubleoften is experienced in placing a new shell in the winding machine inproperly timed relationship to the cutting and dofiing operation.

Having in mind the various problems indicated, I have conceived of amethod and apparatus for winding with a substantially constant downwardpressure being exerted and maintained on the roll as it is wound so thata desirable uniformity may be realized. This improved method is based onthe novel concept of mounting two opposite journals of a roll shell inpairs of fluid pressure controlled supporting jaws which exert adownward pressure while becoming displaced vertically upwardly as theroll diameter increases.

In conjunction with this step of exerting yieldable fluid pressure onthe shell journal-s and the roll, I find I may also control theoperation of jaws so that the cutting knife may only be operated whenthe upper jaws are locked in a lowered or down position, thus impartingsafety and efficiency tothe step of severing the web and starting a newroll.

Still another important feature of the invention comprises a method andapparatus for improved dofiing of .a completed roll. In the dofiing stepof the invention a novel rotary latch mechanism is employed ashereinafter described in detail.

Finally, I have devised a simplified and more positive step for engaginga cut end of a web around a newly installed shell in a manner such thatthe cut end is held in contact with the shell periphery throughout asufficient area to prevent slipping and accidental disengagement of thecut end at any time. I accomplish this by a method of more completelyholding the cut end in contact with the shell periphery for a shortinterval, making use of a special roller finger design which isspecially formed for this purpose.

' The nature of the invention and its other objects and novel featureswill be more fully understood and appreciated from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected forpurposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational View of a preferred form of web windingmachine suitable for carrying out the method of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken at a point designed toreveal the gate supported knife and actuating cylinder mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a detail elevational view of the gate operated knife andactuating cylinder shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing parts of the winding machine andparticularly illustrating a wound roll of cloth or other material in aposition of readiness to be transferred from a rear drum to a frontdrum;

FIG. 7 is another diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 6, but showing thewound roll of cloth having been transferred to a forward drum inaccordance with the method of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 7, butfurther illustrating the wound roll further advanced over the front drumwith the gate actuated knife having been raised into a cutting positionand a new shell having been installed;

FIG. 9 is another diagrammatic view corresponding to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8and further illustrating the method of dofling of the invention in whicha rotary latch mechanism has been actuated to release a wound roll andsimultaneously a cut end of the Web has been raised around a newlyinstalled shell utilizing the special roller finger mechanism of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a detail elevational view of the jaw mecha nism of theinvention;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line 11-11of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a detail iew of the sectional cutter blade of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of a roll shell employed in theinvention;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a fluid actuated system forcontrolling movement of some of the parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 9inclusive; and 1 FIG. 15 is an electrical wiring diagram illustratingthe electrical controlled circuit and the fluid actuated system of FIG.14.

Considering in greater detail the apparatus which I have devised forcarrying out the method of winding of the invention, I provide a mainframe having a pair of spaced vertical frame sides 2 and 4 secured bytransverse hollow frame braces as 3. In accordance with the invention, Ifurther provide in this frame a novel winding shell arrangement by meansof which a roll of cloth may be supported and wound about a shell whilecontlnuously exerting a downward pressure through the shell as thediameter of the roll increases.

The basic components of this novel shell arrangement includes a shellelement whose opposite extremities are releasably supported in two setsof vertically adjustable roller jaws; a rear driving roll arranged tocome into rolling contact with the shell and wind a web of materialtherearound; and a pair of fluid cylinders which are operativelyconnected to the two sets of roller jaws in such a manner that the jawsmay be opened and closed at desired points and yet may exert a downwardpressure wh le becoming displaced upwardly as the roll diameterincreases.

In FIG. 1, I have indicated in dotted lines a shell element inserted inthe frame in one position of adjustment. As noted in FIG. 1, the shell 5is releasably supported between the frame sides 2 and 4 in two sets ofvertically adjustable roller jaws. The shell 5 preferably consists of ashell supporting shaft of square cross section over which is mounted awood or fibre cylinder. The extremities of the shaft are rounded to formjournals 7 and these journals are rotatably received in the roller jawsas suggested in FIG. 1.

The roller jaws are also shown in more detail in FIGS. 7, 10 and 11. Aswill be apparent, the jaws occur in two sets, each of which includesupper roller elements 9 and 11 and lower roller elements 9a and 11a.Both upper and lower rollers are spaced apart a distance slightly lessthan the diameter of the shell spindles to provide a rolling engagement.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated a shaft 6, supported immediately belowthe shell 5 in the frame sides, to which is fixed rear driving roll 8which is adapted to come into rolling contact with the shell 5 in alowered position of the shell such as is illustrated in FIG. 1. In thislowered position of the shell the driving roll 8 is adapted to guide aweb of material M and wind it around the shell in the well known manner.

An important feature of the invention is the manner in which the shell 5is positioned in relation to the driving roll 8 during the severalstages of the winding operation. Change in position of the shell isaccomplished by the fluid cylinders 24 and 26 which cooperate with thetwo sets of jaws to actuate the shell journals in a predeterminedsequence of steps. The fluid cylinders are best shown in FIG. 1, and asnoted therein are mounted externally of the frame sides 2 and 4 in araised position with vertically reciprocating plunger extremities 24aand 26a occuring at the upper ends of the respective cylinders.

The plunger extremities 24a and 26a are connected through slots in theframe sides 2 and 4 to vertically reciprocating bars preferablyconstructed in the form or rack elements. These rack elements areslidably received in channel means in the frame sides 2 and 4 assuggested in FIG. 3. One of the rack elements is denoted by numeral 15in frame 4 as shown in FIG. 3 and channel means for this rack element isindicated at 17.

It will be understood that a similar rack and channel assembly isprovided at the opposite frame side 2. Each of these rack elements 15has fixed thereto roller jaw supports as 9 in which are rotatablymounted upper roller jaws as 9 and 11 (FIG. 10). When the cylinders 24and 26 are actuated, these upper roller jaw supports, together with jaws9 and 11 are caused to move up and down into different positions ofadjustment.

Immediately below the upper roller jaw supports 9 are slidably supportedlower roller jaw supports as 10' in which are rotatably mounted thelower roller jaws 9a and 11a as shown in FIG. 10. At the lowerextremities of the roller supports 10 are provided stop members as 9d.Anchored to the stop means 9d are coiled springs as 30 which extendupwardly and are fastened at their upper ends to respective projectingparts as 36 extending outwardly from the members 15.

By means of this arrangement the lower jaw supports 10 are resilientlyheld in contact with respective upper jaw supports 9 to locate the twosets of jaws in suitably spaced relationship to receive and hold thespindles of the shell 5 in a position such as that shown in FIG. 1. Inthis position the stops 9d are not engaged. However, by means of thearrangement described it will be observed that the jaws may be raised asa pair of units until such time as the stops engage against the framesides. Thereafter the lower jaws will remain in a fixed position whilethe upper jaws continue to rise to a desired point. This may occureither as a result of an increase in the diameter roll, or due to theaction of the cylinders.

In positioning the shell and jaw assemblies by means of the fluidcylinders as described, I find that a definite sequence of operationsmay be carried out very advantageously. This sequence includes locatingthe jaws in an open position; closing the jaws and lowering the shellinto a winding position; yieldably supporting the shell against thedriving roll as the roll diameter increases; relocating the lower jawsat one point in a loading position; and disengaging the upper jaws whenthe roll is partly wound. The last described position of the jaws notonly releases the shell of a partly wound roll, but also relocates thejaws in the open position in which a shell may be inserted.

In the open or released position of the jaws, with the machine at rest,a shell member is readily inserted by a machine operator and theoperation of hand wrapping a cut end of cloth around the shell isfacilitated as well as subsequent mechanical wrapping of cut ends ashereinafter described in detail. In this raised position of the shellthe stops 9d are engaged against the frame and the lower jaws can moveno higher; also the upper jaws are raised to separate them from thelower jaws and define a space through which the shell spindles are freeto move. It is pointed out that the jaws will normally be located in aseparated position with the shell occurring above the driving roll whenthe machine has been at rest and a winding operation is being startedfor the first time.

It will be seen that the basic winding shell arrangement now describedconstitutes an improved and efiicient means for carrying out a windingoperation since a substantially uniform pressure may be exerted by meansoff the fluid cylinders as winding progresses and the roll diameterincreases. In addition, the sequence of operations is especiallyadvantageous in relation to two other steps which are required in acontinuous web winding cycle, including (a) transferring a partly woundroll to a forward driving roll and cutting the web when a fully woundroll is obtained, and (b) mechanically engaging a cut end of cloth abouta newly inserted shell above the rear driving roll.

In this connection I further provide in combination with the reardriving roll 8, a forward driving roll 10, which is supported in themachine frame in spaced relation to roll 8 to define a gate aperture 13.Both the driving rolls 8 and 10 may be power driven in some convenientmanner by any suitable source of power such as the prime mover Pindicated fragmentarily at the left hand side of FIG. 1. In the gateaperture 13 is adjustably mounted a gate structure 14 hearing a cuttingmember 18. The gate is normally supported in a position to lie below thedriving rolls as suggested in FIG. 6 and is adapted to be raisedupwardly to cut a web of cloth when a fully wound roll has beencompleted on the forward driving roll 10. As shown in FIG. 3 oppositeextremities of the gate 14 are guided in some suitable manner as bychannel means 16 in the frame sides 2 and 4.

In accordance with the invention, I control movement of the gate 14through a gate actuating fluid cylinder 20 which is in the fluidpressure actuating system for controlling the fluid cylinders 24 and 26earlier described. This common fluid pressure actuating system isillustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 14. The cylinder is located in thebase of the machine frame as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and at its upper endis secured centrally of the gate structure 14. Operation of the cylinder20 to raise the gate 14 is controlled through a switch 39, indicated inan electrical wiring diagram shown in FIG. 15. By means of thisarrangement the transfer of a partly wound roll onto the forward drivingroll may be carried out after the cylinders 24 and 26 have raised theupper roller jaws into a fully extended position. This provides forfurther winding to take place until a fully completed roll isaccomplished, and then the cylinder 20 may be actuated through theswitch 39 to cut the web at precisely the desired time.

An important feature in connection with the use of the gate raisingcylinder 20 consists in a special electrical interlocking circuit whichprevents the gate from being raised until a new shell is inserted andlowered into a starting position on the rear driving roll. This circuitis illustrated in FIG. 15. Controls for the circuit of FIG. 15 aremounted on one of the frame sides as suggested in FIG. 2 and include awarning signal 31, a signal shutoff switch 33, a pilot light 35, a jawlowering push button 37, and a gate raising switch 3 9. These switches37 and 39 operate through a jaw solenoid 37a and a gate solenoid 39a. ItWill be apparent that this interlocking switch arrangement provides forsafety and efficiency in locating a new shell in the machine after apartly wound roll has been transferred onto the forward driving roll.

In addition to the manually operated switches described, I also providea switch 38 Wihch is supported on the machine frame in a position suchthat it is actuated by movement of the projecting part 36 at one point.This point occurs when a roll has become partly wound to some desireddiameter and is required to be transferred to the forward driving roll10. The switch 38 controls the operation of the cylinders 24 and 26 in amanner such that when the switch closes a circuit as shown in FIG. 15,the cylinders 24 and 26 are caused to push upwardly on the respectiveracks, thereby raising the upper jaws in a manner already described. Inthus raising the racks on opposite sides or" the machine, I may providegear means 19 fixed on a shaft 21. These gears, when engaged by theracks, impart rotative movement to the shaft 21 thereby to synchronizeupward travel of the two racks and lock them together.

A desirable and novel feature of the fluid cylinder system andelectrical controls noted is provision of a novel reservoir which notonly holds actuating fluid, in close proximity to cylinders 20, 24 and'26, but also provides a reservoir of pressure. The reservoir ofactuating fluid is contained in a tubular conduit comprised, forexample, by the hollow cross-brace 3. By utilizing this reservoir offluid and by causing it to be held at a relatively high pressure, bymeans of suitable check valves, it becomes possible to operate themachine for a considerable period without interruption.

It will be apparent that in the event of a drop in line pressure due,for example, to a failure at the pressure source, completion of anoperating cycle may nevertheless be carried out. In fact, the volume offluid contained in the hollow brace may be several times that necessaryfor a complete winding cycle. Consequently, if there is a failure at thesource, it is possible to go on and complete several additional rollsentirely by means of the reservoir of pressure noted.

The gate 14 and cutting knife 18 are both specially designed to overcomeobjectionable features of prior art machines. In the case of the knife18, I have formed this member of a number of cutting sections which arerigidly secured together, but any one of which may be detached forsharpening or replacment by a new section. This is a highly desirablefeature enabling an operator '6 to avoid loss of time in repairing afaulty knife Without the entire machine having to be taken apart.Frequent sharpening of the blade sections results in more positivecutting and no interruption of the machine operation.

I also construct the gate itself in an improved manner to impart greaterstrength and resistance to flexing or bending. The body of the gate isformed as shown in FIG. 5 to constitute an elongated box section open onone side to receive the fingers, and arranged so that two spaced apartside portions are presented to resist downward cutting pressure. I findthis arrangement resists any tendency for bending or flexing to occurand undesirable distortion is avoided regardless of the kind of materialto be cut.

In combination with the gate structure 14, I also provide novel rollerfingers R best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and also indicated in severaldifferent positions in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. These fingers are employed tolap a cut end of cloth around a newly inserted shell and are fixed to ashaft S pivotally contained in spaced bearings B fixed to the lowersection of gate 14. Coiled springs C anchored to the gate, normally seekto hold the fingers in the position shown in FIG. 5 and to urge therolls to follow the contour of the shell as best shown in FIG. 9. Attheir extremities the fingers are formed with hearing portions P inwhich are mounted rollers O. The fingers R are constructed with aspecial arcuate shape with an extended arc of structure chosen such thateach of the rollers 0 may, in a raised position of the gate, such asthat shown in FIG. 5, extend over the peripheral surface of the shell 5to a point where overlapping is positively insured. I find that bysupporting these roller fingers in a raised position as described, I amenabled to wrap a cloth end around the shell in a positive manner sothat lapping is assured and failure to engage the cloth is avoided.

In FIGS. 1-3 and 6-9 inclusive is illustrated an improved latchmechanism for receiving a partly wound roll from the rear drum 8 andreleasably holding the roll until winding is completed and the roll isready for dofling. Numerals 41 and 42 denote transfer arms fixed to ashaft 43 at the end of which is a handle 40. Manual operation of thehandle 40 moves the partly wound roll forwardly onto driving roll 10.

As the partly wound roll moves forwardly, opposite shell journals arereceived and held by a pair of holding arms 52, 52'. These arms arepivotally supported on opposite sides of the frame on pins as 54 (FIGS.2 and 3), and each of these arms include projecting edges as 50extending into the path of travel of the shell spindles.

As the journals come into contact with the retaining edges 50 they areguided downwardly into engagement with roller latch assemblies which arepivotally mounted at the lower extremities of the holding arms 52 and52. Each of these roller latch assemblies include roll supporting headsas 66 which are rotatably mounted at 66 as shown in FIGS. 6-9 inclusive.In each roll support are mounted roller elements as 68, 70and 72 inspaced relation such that in one position of the roll support the rollerelements constitute a three point bearing into which the journals of theshell 5 may be received and held as indicated in FIG. 8. The axis of themountings 66' are aligned to permit simultaneous movement of thesupporting heads 66.

It is pointed out that a mechanism for receiving and holding therelatively heavy roll of cloth or other material must have a reliablelatch arrangement which will resist accidental disengagement when suddenload forces of a transferred roll are exerted. With this in mind I havedevised a special locking linkage for holding the roll supports androlls in a locked position until the linkage is released by hand. Oneset of linkages is shown in FIGS. 6-9 and includes links 56, 5 8, 60, 61inclusive. Link 61 is fixed to a shaft 62 which is manually turned bymeans of a handle 64. Link 58 has its lower extremity pivotallyconnected at 58a to the roll support 66. The upper extremity of link 58is pinned to link 56 at pivot point 58b.

The location of pivot point 58b is specially placed in offset relationto pivot points 56a, 56b and 58a of links 56 and 58 as shown. Thisarrangement thus provides a unique locking action since forces actingthrough the roll support only tend to lock the linkage more securely.Thus, in the relative position of the links and pivot points described,it is impossible for a partly wound roll to act on the roller supportsand cause accidental rotation of these members and release of the roll.In order for the roll supports to be swung the linkage must be releasedfrom the handle 64 with the link 56 pulling the link 58 into theposition shown in FIG. 9.

FIGS. 6-9 inclusive illustrate successive steps in transferring a partlywound roll onto a forward driving roll, completing winding on thisforward roll, and then dofling the fully wound roll using the novellatch mechanism of the invention. A partly wound roll W is shown in FIG.6. In FIG. 7, the roll W has been transferred to forward driving roll10, and the shell spindles are being guided along the edges 50 of theholding arms 52, 52. In PEG. 8 the shell spindles of roll W are shownfully engaged in and held by the rollers 68, 70, 72 in which positionwinding is continued until a fully wound roll is obtained and the web iscut. In FIG. 9 the roll W is shown in a doffing or released positionresulting from operating the handle 64 and unlocking the linkages sothat the roller latches are swung into a position to release thespindles of the shell 5. From this position it will be understood thatthe roll W will be discharged onto a chute 69.

It will be observed that the holding arms 52, 52 will be displacedoutwardly when the fully wound roll is dofied and to cushion the impactof these arms as they fall back I provide rubber cushions as 51a whichare set into the frame sides as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 3.

I have found that the linkage and roll latch mechanism above describedis reliable and will resist accidental release of a cloth roll. Therotary latch mechanism greatly simplifies both engagement and release ofthe shell journals of a roll. Moreover, when a fully wound roll has beenreleased, the latch mechanism automatically relocks in readiness toreceive the next roll.

Considering the various operations now described in their correctsequence, it may be assumed that the machine is at rest and that thejaws are in a normally opened position. The operator inserts a shell inthe lower jaws. He then presses the jaw lowering push-button 3'7 andcloses the jaws with the shell then being dropped down into contact withthe rear driving roll. It will be understood that the web of materialhas been hand wrapped around the shell as earlier described so thatwinding then takes place.

Winding continues on the rear driving roll until the diameter of theroll reaches a predetermined diameter which will cause the projection 36to actuate the switch 38. At this point a circuit is closed whichreverses the pressure exerted by the cylinders 24 and 26 and the upperjaws are raised upwardly thus releasing the shell spindles. The rollthus partly wound then moves onto the driving roll 10 with the shellspindles being received and held by the rotary latch mechanism. In thisposition winding continues for a period of time until a fully wound rollof desired diameter is obtained.

While the roll is being completed, as noted above, the operator insertsa new shell in the lower jaws. He then waits until a fully wound roll isobtained of a desired diameter and then presses the jaw lowering pushbutton 37 to close the jaws and locate the second shell in contact withthe rear driving roll. When this has been done he operates the gateraising switch 39 and cuts the cloth as has been diagrammaticallysuggested in FIG. 8. Simultaneously the roller fingers R engage the cutend of cloth around the new shell 5 as shown in FIG. 8 and carry thiscut end all the way around the shell 5 into a fully lapped position suchas shown in FIG. 9. The driving roll 8 immediately continues to windmaterial around the shell to start a new roll. Thereafter the operatorturns the handle 64 which releases the locking latch mechanism and thefully wound roll W is released.

Attention is again directed to the important functioning of the rollerfingers just above referred to in connection with the cutting of theweb. It is pointed out that concurrently with the cutting operation theroller fingers are brought up into contact with a portion of the weboccurring just in back of the line of cutting so that the fingers mayinstantly engage the cut end of the web against an underside of the newshell as has been suggested in FIG. 8. As the gate continues to riseinto the position shown in FIG. 9 and as the roller fingers arespring-loaded, they revolve around the shell periphery with sufficientpressure to hold the leading edge of the cut web firmly against theshell at all points. By reason of the formation of the fingers withtheir greatly extended arcs or curvature it is possible to contain thecut end all the way around the shell up to a point just prior to wherethe cut edge is overlapped by the next turn of material on the shellperiphery. I find it is this precise positioning and roll followeraction of the fingers which completely eliminates the difiicultiesheretofore experienced from cloth slipping or from faulty lappingrequiring interruption of machine operation.

From the foregoing description of the method and apparatus of theinvention, it will be apparent that I have provided a number ofdesirable improvements in the art of web winding. Thus, the use of afluid pressure system in the manner disclosed provides for a constantuniform pressure being exerted on a roll of material as it increases indiameter and this results in a superior winding operation whicheliminates difficulties heretofore encountered where variation inpressure has necessarily resulted from the use of prior art brakingmeans. Use of the fiuid pressure system in the manner employed in theinvention further provides for reversing the pressure exerted throughthe upper jaws and makes it possible to very desirably control both theactual winding and the release of the jaws. Also by using fluid pressureto motivate the gate and cutting knife, it becomes possible to relatethe successive operations in a desirable sequence with saving of timeand labor.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will beunderstood that various changes and modifications may be resorted to inkeeping with the scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A web winding machine comprising a frame, power driving rollssupported in the frame in spaced apart relationship to define a gateaperture therebetween, jaw means for releasably supporting a shell inrolling contact with one of the driving rolls, fluid pressure means forvertically adjusting and opening and closing the jaw means, a secondshell supporting means being pivotally supported on said frame, saidsecond shell supporting means including aligned arcuately arrangedbearings for receiving the ends of the shell, means rotatably mountingsaid aligned bearings, a latch mechanism for holding said bearings inposition for retaining said shell, a mechanism for transferring a partlywound roll of material on said shell from the first jaw supporting meansto the second supporting means, a vertically adjustable gate structureincluding side walls normally supported within the gate aperture, fluidmeans for moving said gate in said gate aperture, a sectional webcutting device mounted at the upper portion of said gate for cuttingsaid web when the latter is supported in one position on the rotatabledriving rolls, and means for engaging and lapping a cut portion of theweb around a shell, said last named means including a plurality ofarcuate fingers mounted at their lower end portions and normallypositioned between the side walls of said gate when in its loweredposition, said fingers having roller engaging elements at their freeends, said spring means normally urging said fingers laterally 9 of saidgate for engaging said web, and means for actuating a latch mechanism torelease a fully wound roll when the gate is raised and the web is cut.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which the fluid pressure means foracjusting and opening the jaw rreans which releasably supports the shellin holding contact with one f the driving rolls is automaticallycontrolled to position the jaws for loading, positively opening the jawsin the loading position and lowering the jaws to position the shell intoa winding position.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasably supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls is automaticallycontrolled to position the jaws for loading, one of the jaws beingdisabled against movement at a predetermined point and the other jawcontinuing its movement whereby the jaws are separated.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which relasahly supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls yieldingly supports theshell against the driving roll as the roll diameter increases.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasably supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls yieldingly supports theshell against the driving roll regardless of the roll diameter.

6. A web winding machine comprising a frame having a rear driving rolland a front driving roll supported thereon in spaced apart relationshipto define a gate aperture therebetween, jaw means for releasablysupporting a shell in contact with one of the driving rolls, fluidpressure means for adjusting and opening and closing the jaw means, amechanism for transferring a partly wound roll of material on said shellfrom one of the driving rolls to the other, a pair of pivotally mountedholding arms each including guide means and axially aligned shellsupporting heads for receiving the shell from the transfer mechanism,said axially aligned supporting heads being rotatably mounted at thelower portions of said holding arms and each including spaced inwardlyprojecting bearing elements providing a three-point support for an endof the shell, a latch mechanism for locking a supporting head, saidlatch mechanism including linkage connected at its ends with therotating head and the associated pivotally mounted arm, said linkagebeing constructed and arranged to be moved to a dead center positionwhen the mounting heads are under load, and manual means for shiftingsaid linkage out of line to permit the heads to rotate to shift thespaced inwardly projecting bearing elements to a position for dischargeor" the shell.

7. The structure of claim 6 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasably supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls is automaticallycontrolled to position the jaws for loading, positively opening the jawsin the loading position and lowering the jaws to position the shell intoa winding position.

8. The structure of claim 6 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasably supports the shellin holding contact with one or" the driving rolls is automaticallycontrolled to position the jaws for loading, one of the jaws beingdisabled against movement at a predetermined point and the other jawcontinuing its movement whereby the jaws are separated.

9. The structure of claim 6 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasahly supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls yieldingly supports theshell against the driving roll as the roll diameter increases.

1O. The structure of claim 6 in which the fluid pressure means foradjusting and opening the jaw means which releasahly supports the shellin holding contact with one of the driving rolls yieldingly supports theshell against the driving roll regardless of the roll diameter.

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